Method of lasting shoes



Aug. 18,1931. R'. a, MCCARTHY 1,819,911-

' METHOD oF LASTING sHoEs Filed Feb. 6. -1930 Rl'L/vard El. MEEll-PH'IH Iryveha'r A fn VHEL/ Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcs RICHARD IB. MCCARTHY, OF SWAMIIE'SCOT'I,y MASSACHUSETTS, xSSIGfNOB. T0 VAT'J'JLVAST'."l COMPANY, INC., F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, `A, CORPORATION METHOD or LAsTINev sHoEs Application mea rebruarye, 1930. serial no; 426,401.

The invention relates to a novel method of lasting the insole and the uppe-r of a shoe on the last, to substantially overcome or avoid the objections and difliculties inherent in lasting operations, as practiced heretofore, due primarily to the so-called bridging of the leather or fabric of the inner portion of the shank of the uppe-r between the inner lateral face of the shank of the last and the outer surface of the insole applied to the bottom face of the last; the method comprising applying the insole to the bottom of the last and supporting the inside shank area of the insole upon the last or upon a depressed surface of the last bottom, so as to bring the outer surface of said area substantially flush with the adjacent lateral shank surface of the last, and attaching the upper to the insole, with the inner shank portion of the upper applied to the substantially unbroken surface formed partly by thev said lateral shank surface of the last and the outer face of the inner shank portion of the insole.

The application of the method is graphically illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the last with the insole applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the application of the insole, the upper and the outer sole.

In a companion application Serial No. 419,967, filed January 10, 1930, there is illustrated and described a typical last by means of which the method, constituting the present invention, is practiced and, in the present application, the same type of last is employed.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the body of the last, which, as stated, is of the same character as that described in my prior application aforesaid. Formed on the inner side of the bottom of the shank is a longitudinal recess or depression B, which is bounded on its outer edge by a shoulder B', which follows the inner margin of the shank and is adapted to be engaged by the inner edge C2 of the shank of an insole C, to be lasted on the last, the depth of the depression B at the recess B, and the adjacent inner lateral shank i shoulder B being substantially equal to the thickness of the insole, and the inner portion of the depression merging into the bottom face of the last,y sothat,l when the insole isI applied to the bottom of the last, the innershank area of the insole will fit in said recess B kand be supported by the bottom thereof,

the edge of the insole will abut the shoulder, and the outer surface of theV shank of the -insole will be substantially flush with the acl-" jacent lateral shank surface A2 of the last,

so that, when the upper is applied to the insole, the inner shank portion ofthe upper will lie smoothly and evenly on the unbrokenr surface formed in part by the vouter face oft that portion ofthe insole which occupies the depression and the adjacent surface of the inner shank portion of the last. By this means, the bridging of the fabric of the up-` per is avoided or so far reduced as to be neg-"70 ligible and the fabric of the inner shank portion of the upper will conform strictly tothe inner shank surface of the last and, therefore, n to the foot yof the wearer. v ,l

In applying the upper to the insole, any`'75 ofthe'usual methods are employed, except that the inner shank portion, where the usual stretching and working ofthe fabric of the upper to bring it into approximate con-, formity with the surface of the last is no 30 longer necessary, because the fabric may be laidv smoothly onlthe compositev surface-referred to, constituted by the outer surface of that portion' of the insole which occupies they surfaceof the last. Y

As the result of this' novel mode oflasting the insole and the rupper on the last, the stretching and straining of the fabric of thel inner shank portion of the upper is entirely avoided, which results in a saving in time and labor, the full thickness of the insole at the inner portion of the shank may be utilized to give additional strength to the finished shoe at this section and the inner shank portion of the finished shoe will be so fashioned as to fit the foot without wrinkles, pockets or other distortions, which frequently result from the stretching and working of thel leather or other fabric of the upper in an atv100 tempt to bring the same into conformity With the surface of the last.

After the insole and the upper have been lasted on the last, in the manner and form aforesaid, the usual shank stiener D and the outer sole E may be applied and secured to the insole in any approved manner and the shoe finished in accordance With the usual practice, the finished shoe differing from 'tl1ose manufactured by the usual methods in that the inner shank portion of the upper conforms strictly to the last and, therefore, to the foot and that the full strengh of the shoe structure is preserved at the junction of the said inner shank portion of the upper with the insole. l

The advantages of the new ymethod of lastl ing are manifold and will be clearly apparent Y Y to those skilled in the art and, therefore, need not be specifically enumerated herein beyond 'stating that the elimination of the bridging of the inner portion of the shank of the upper results in stronger and better fitting shoes that may be produced at a considerable saving of time, labor and expense.

What I claim is:

l. The method of making close shank shoes, i

which comprises applying to the bottom of the last an insole substantially coextensive A .30 with said bottom and supporting the inside shank area only of the insolel upon the last so as to bring the outer surface of said area substantially flush with the adjacent lateral `shank surface of the last, and attaching an 35. upper to the insole with the inner shank portion of the upper applied to the substantially unbroken surface formed partly by the insole andA partly by the last.

2. Themethod of making closeshank shoes, VI L 10Y which comprises applying to the bottom of the last an insole of substantially uniform Qthickness and substantially coextensive With said bottom and supportingV the inside shank ,area only of the insole upon a depressed sur- 45. face of the last bottom to bring the outer surface of said area substantially flush with the adjacent lateral shank surface of the last, and attaching an upper to the insole with the inner shank portion of the upper applied to v .the substantially unbroken surface formed partly by the insole and partly by the last. Y- j n Intestimony whereof I affix my signature. RICHARD B. MoCARTI-IY. i 

